Senior Researcher

Ofgem is dedicated to providing Great Britain with safe, affordable, and eco-friendly energy which is crucial for the Net Zero transition. Amidst challenges like the global gas crisis and the rise of living costs, understanding consumer needs and experiences is paramount. We're seeking an experienced Senior Researcher, specialised in quantitative research and analysis, to join our Customer Insight & Behavioural Science team. This role is key to producing the high-quality research necessary for informed decision-making at Ofgem. Our inclusive culture celebrates diversity, driving innovation and enhancing our connection to the communities we serve.

As a senior researcher, your purpose will be to deliver high-quality research and analysis by leading or overseeing quantitative consumer research projects targeting both households and businesses. You'll also maximise the value and impact of data collected by Ofgem and external organisations through analysis to address key policy and strategic questions.

The ideal candidate will have a strong track record in leading the design and delivery of quantitative social research projects.. You will be skilled at forging solid connections with team members and external partners to uncover new research and collaboration possibilities along with the ability to coach and mentor junior researchers. Furthermore, you'll ensure Senior Leaders have access to timely insights on consumers, including vulnerable groups, to help ensure that the consumer voice is central to policy-making.

In this position, you will lead and execute impactful research projects which are crucial for guiding policy decisions and achieving our strategic goals. You'll provide expertise in survey research, ensure the quality of our work, and analyse large survey datasets to deepen our understanding of consumers. .

This role is pivotal in ensuring our research influences policy and communicates effectively, advocating for consumer interests. You will also present findings engagingly to stakeholders and collaborate with external partners and our behavioural science team to ensure a comprehensive approach to policy issues.

At Ofgem, our inclusive culture is at the heart of what we do, embracing the diversity of our team to foster innovation and accurately reflect the consumers and communities we advocate for. Our dedication to inclusivity ensures that everyone is welcome and can confidently bring their true selves to their work environment.

Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) works on behalf of energy consumers to ensure that every household and business in Great Britain can rely on a safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy supply.  We are playing a vital part in accelerating the transition to Net Zero and a carbon neutral energy system.

With the continued challenges that consumers face in the current energy market following the global gas crisis and cost of living pressures, and the important role of the consumer in achieving Net Zero, having a deep understanding of the needs, perceptions and experiences of consumers, and putting the consumer voice at the heart of our decisions, has never been more important.

We are recruiting for an experienced social researcher, with particular expertise in quantitative research to work as a senior member of the Customer Insight & Behavioural Science team within the Analysis profession.

The successful candidate will play a leading role in ensuring we deliver high quality quantitative research and analysis, providing the evidence needed to support Ofgem's decision making.

Ofgem has a culture of inclusion that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues. It fuels our innovation and connects us closer to the consumers and the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome—as an inclusive workplace, our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. 

Purpose

1. Deliver high quality research and analysis by leading or overseeing quantitative (or qualitative) consumer research projects (with households and businesses)
2. Maximise the value and impact of data collected by Ofgem and external organisations, conducting analysis and synthesising evidence to address key policy and strategic questions.
3. Ensure senior leaders have access to timely insights on consumers, including vulnerable consumers and help ensure the consumer voice is central to policy making.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading, shaping and delivering high quality and inclusive quantitative, (or qualitative/mixed methods) research projects, ensuring they have a tangible impact on policy decisions and support our strategic objectives.
• Supporting the Principal Researcher (and wider team) through provision of technical expertise/oversight in survey research and quality assurance at all stages of the research process.
• Conduct/oversee advanced analysis of large datasets to build our evidence base on consumers, including through working with data scientists and other analysts
• Provide mentoring to less experienced members of staff on quantitative research methods and play an active role in the Research and Behavioural Science sub profession to help build capability.
• Ensure research and analysis has impact within Ofgem and that research is effectively interpreted and communicated in policy papers.
• Champion the voice of the consumer in Ofgem.
• Present consumer insights to internal and external stakeholders (at all levels) in an engaging way, helping to raise the profile and impact of the team and the research we produce.
• Work effectively with the behavioural science team to help ensure that as a team we take a holistic view of policy issues and what methods are most appropriate.
• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders eg peers in other regulators or government departments and research agencies

Key Outputs and Deliverables

• Identify research needs, plan and lead or oversee commissioned (or in-house) projects to ensure timely, publishable standard research outputs, clear recommendations and effective dissemination.
• Provision of technical expertise and advice on quantitative methods- eg critically review agency approaches and outputs at all stages to ensure accuracy and quality - including sampling methodologies, weighting approaches, data quality and accuracy of analysis and reporting.
• Lead in-house quantitative statistical analysis of survey data sets to address key policy questions, generating clear, simple and engaging outputs.
• Embed the consumer voice and unique insights around consumers into Ofgem's decisions, working effectively with other analytical disciplines to triangulate evidence from different sources and generate a holistic narrative around consumers.
• Keep abreast of advances in the social/market research profession and cutting-edge external research, finding effective ways to channel it into Ofgem.
• Work with peers in other regulators, Government and other stakeholders to identify opportunities for collaboration.
• Draft clear and concise documents, including briefing, reports, and management papers.
• Represent Ofgem at external events, conferences etc to showcase the work of research and wider analytical work in Ofgem.
• Help to strengthen links with the Government Social Research profession and improve the skills/capabilities of people and quality and rigour of outputs, including through taking ownership for own continued professional development.

• Strong track record in leading the design and delivery of quantitative social research projects (LEAD)
• Advanced technical expertise in quantitative analysis using survey data, including strong understanding of statistical methods and hypothesis testing.
• High level of proficiency using tools such as SPSS, Python, R, or similar to manipulate, analyse and visualise research data.
• Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to identify opportunities for research and collaboration.
• Ability to evaluate, synthesise and interpret evidence from a variety of sources, coming to logical conclusions and communicating this effectively to senior non-specialists
• Experience managing or mentoring less experienced researchers